Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, the overtake of factory-made goods of all kinds has meant that artisan-supporting businesses are somewhat of a rarity. Especially now that cheap labor almost always moves to China and India, other small-scale handicraft entrepreneurs are left in the dust.
But there's been a resurgence, coupled with a nostalgia for simpler times, perhaps, of handmade goods from all over the globe. This SocialBusiness.org top list of artisan-supporting businesses showcases some of the companies who are making people a priority, rather than profit.
The result is a selection of products that, in the end, don't sacrifice quality or livelihood for cheap labor. From Kenyan art clinics to opportunity-generating accessories and online ethical retailers, artisan-supporting businesses are where it's at.
30 Artisan-Supporting Businesses
From Kenyan Art Clinics to Opportunity-Generating Accessories:
Tiana Reid — Feb 10, 2012 — Social Good
30
Zulugrass Jewelry
The Leakey Collection Employs Women in the The Rift Valley, Kenya
29
Hand-Dyed Ikat Handbags
Push Pull Cambodia is a Social Enterprise with a Sense of Style
28
Fair Trade Ugandan Goods
One Mango Tree's Clothing and Accessories Have a Beautiful Story
27
Online Ethical Retailers
SERRV Alleviates Poverty by Supporting Artisans from Around the World
26
Fair Trade Peruvian Handcrafts
Sanyork Promotes Artisans in a Poor Community of Lima
25
Apparel Against Slavery
'Stop Traffick Fashion' Supports Artisans Through Income and Resources
24
Traceable Empowerment Fashion
The IOU Project Employs Artisans in India and Shares their Stories
23
Peace Pillows
Oimei Co. is a Fair Trade Business Re-Investing Profits in Peacebuilding Initiatives
22
Abuse-Free Indian Carpets
Jaipur Rugs Creates Tantalizing Products for You to Happily Walk On
21
Fashionable Fair Trade Apparel (UPDATE)
Indego Africa Gives Artisans a Protected Place to Create
20
Culturally Relevant Luggage
Ethnotek Creates Bags Using Direct Fabric Trade
19
Edgy Fashion Co-Ops
Fair Trade 'Of Rags' Combines NYC Style with Ghanaian Fashion
18
Human-Oriented Handicrafts
Tekoha Promotes Sustainable Development for Brazilian Artisans
17
Psychedelic Handmade Belts
The Andean Collection is a Vivid and Ethical Line of Fashion
16
Kenyan Art Clinics
The Bombolulu Workshops & Cultural Centre Empowers Artisans of All Abilities
15
Socially Conscious Packaging
Level Ground Trading Re-Sealable Bags Take You Back to the Fields
14
Soulful Business Solutions
Yoga Company 'I AM.' Sees Itself as an Idea and Not a Brand
13
Opportunity-Generating Accessories
'Hands Up Not Handouts' Uses Business for Positive Change
12
Corporate Gifting for Good
Handcrafted Gifts from Zoe Alliance Offer Ethical Employment
11
Cow-Print Cushions
Deep Dark Africa Creates Simple Fair Trade Home Design
10
Charitable Animal Sculptures
The Bundu Designs Rhinos are Made from Wire
9
Capacity-Building Artisan Groups
The Nest Maiyet Partnership Creates Positive Impact (UPDATE)
8
Ethical African-Inspired Gifts
Bundu Works with a Support Group for HIV-Positive Women in Malawi
7
Vibrant Fair Trade Products
Global Mamas Helps Ghana-Based Artisan Reach New Markets
6
Empowering Recycled Bowls
This Crockery from Bundu Designs is African-Inspired
5
Cultural Clothing Tours
Verdes y Colores is the Vision of Sustainable Retail and Fashion
4
Ethical Silk Scarves
‘Cambodian Threads’ Gives School Supplies to Impoverished Kids
3
Socially Responsible Textiles
Proud Mary Provides Artisan Materials in Developing Nations
2
Sustaining Rural Development
Barefoot College Supports Professionals in the Majority World
1
Community-Focused Palestinian Produce
Zaytoun Imports Organic and Fair Trade Products
Related Ideas
Altruistic Online Marketplaces
'Shop With Meaning' Sells Socially-Responsible Items with a Story
Zulugrass Jewelry
The Leakey Collection Employs Women in the The Rift Valley, Kenya
12 Ethical Coffee Brands
Social Businesses Using Beverage and Bean Sales to Give Back
70 Ethical Children's Products
From Bamboo Baby Toys to Uplifting Parasols
35 Socially Aware Accessories
From Afghan Heritage Jewelry to Flat-Top Shades
Traveling Fashion Boutiques
The StyleLiner is a Pop-Up Shop on Wheels
Stopping Sexual Slavery
Sunitha Krishnan Speaks About a Sex Trade Industry That Destroys Lives
Aimi Duong, Founder of Oimei Co. (INTERVIEW)
62 Fashion-Focused Social Businesses
From Kenyan Running Apparel to Explosive Ethical Jewelry
Explosive Ethical Jewelry
'peaceBOMB' Bracelets Embrace War-Inflicted Cities
50 Fair Trade Fashion Features
From Nature-Loving Knickers to Socially Conscious Scarves
Army Surplus Sofas
The Inheritance Collection is Assembled from Old Military Materials
19 Food-Focused Social Enterprises
From Well-Wasted Cuisine to Ethical Gastropubs
Fair Trade Peruvian Handcrafts
Sanyork Promotes Artisans in a Poor Community of Lima
Alchemist Spice Branding
Sheffield & Sons Packaging Evokes an Ingredient Purity
Dark Beer Branding
The Tomat Design ‘JC' Lager is Inspired by the Sea and Strong Flavo
Rainbow-Brite Shoots
The Juliane Gruner by Craig Mcdean Shoot Sparkles With Color
Apparel Against Slavery
'Stop Traffick Fashion' Supports Artisans Through Income and Resources
Traceable Empowerment Fashion
The IOU Project Employs Artisans in India and Shares their Stories
Peace Pillows
Oimei Co. is a Fair Trade Business Re-Investing Profits in Peacebuilding Initiatives
Marvelous Melting Branding
Nonna Lina Ice Cream Packaging Combines Classic and Contemporary Design
20 Creative Worker Cooperatives
From Opportunity-Generating Accessories to Upcycled Train Stations
Ethical Shopping Sites
Magnifeco is an Eco-Fashion Source Featuring All Things Socially Good
Socially Sustainable Fashion
'All of Us Revolution' Encourages Women to Rethink Consumption
Fashionable Fair Trade Apparel (UPDATE)
Indego Africa Gives Artisans a Protected Place to Create
Worker-Focused Shoe Companies
'soleRebels' was Founded to Create Jobs in Ethiopian Communities
Pay-as-You-Go Energy
Simpa Networks Offers Solar Power to Underserved Markets in India
Antislavery Pants
Punjammies by Women Who Have Escaped Prostitution in India
Charming Confectionery Branding
The 'Dude, Sweet' Chocolate by Tractorbeam is Creatively Simple
12 Social Solar Innovations
From Illuminated Education Incentives to Kerosene-Replacing Lamps
Culturally Relevant Luggage
Ethnotek Creates Bags Using Direct Fabric Trade
Majority World Tech Incubators
D-Rev Designs Solution-Driven Products for Low-Income Customers
Retro Wallpapered Women
The Ian Addison Hall 'Patterns of Science' Art Examines Genetics
12 Social Loan Opportunities
From Youth-Oriented Finances to Collateral-Free Microcredit
Upcycled Rugby Balls
The TOUCH Initiative Recycles Garbage while Creating Jobs
Edgy Fashion Co-Ops
Fair Trade 'Of Rags' Combines NYC Style with Ghanaian Fashion
Car Part Crockery
CADCAM Tableware Provokes Thought About Industrial Production
12 TOMS Innovations
From Chic Charitable Shoes to Bearded Botas Kicks
Fashion for Justice
Delicate Fortress Creations Fight Human Trafficking, Slavery, Poverty
Ethical Lifestyle Apps
The Fair Trade Finder App Crowdsources Fair Trade-Certified Products
'90s Grunge Collections
The Ethel Vaughn Kalt A/W 2011/2012 Collection is Fit for a Drama Queen
Charitable Model Jewelry
The Coco Rocha for Senhoa Collection Helps Victims of Human Trafficking
Kenyan Art Clinics
The Bombolulu Workshops & Cultural Centre Empowers Artisans of All Abilities
Socially Conscious Packaging
Level Ground Trading Re-Sealable Bags Take You Back to the Fields
Carbon-Negative Stoves
Inyenyeri Uses Crowdsourced Biofuel to Transform Energy Systems in Rwanda
Profit-Sharing Cafes
Kinfolk is an Australian Social Business with Four Development Projects
Soulful Business Solutions
Yoga Company 'I AM.' Sees Itself as an Idea and Not a Brand
Cultural Camper Packs
Socially Conscious Ethnotek Bags' Travel Backpacks Conform to Desired Style
Reserved Farmhouse Branding
Villa de Platos Uses Barnyard Designs
Opportunity-Generating Accessories
'Hands Up Not Handouts' Uses Business for Positive Change
Corporate Gifting for Good
Handcrafted Gifts from Zoe Alliance Offer Ethical Employment
Plunging Polka Pictorials
The Flair November 2011 Issue Shows Sweet Vintage Chic
Cow-Print Cushions
Deep Dark Africa Creates Simple Fair Trade Home Design
Do-Good Sunglasses
The SHAUNS SHADES ‘Buy One Give Sight' Mission is Inspiring
Homemade Distillery Branding
The Brooklyn Brew Shop 'Beer Making Kit' is Refreshingly Fun
Creature Outline Crockery
Bernardaud Breakfast Bowls Reveal Forms When Filled to the Brim
Exotic Ethical Carpets
GAN Rugs are a Cozy Alternative to the Persian Mats You've Been Buying
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
Solar Sister Targets Women to Sell Lamps and Improve Livelihoods
Vibrant Kid-Centric Packaging
Little Duck Organics Use Dinky Toys as Inspiration for Branding
Green Thumb Growables
The Joel Derksen 8 Container Gardening Kit is Fix-It-Yourself Food
Curated Ethical Boxes
Monthly Blissmoboxes are Packed With Social Goodness
Charitable Animal Sculptures
The Bundu Designs Rhinos are Made from Wire
Organized Baking Vessels
'Cake in a Bowl' Helps You Make Confections All in One Place
Fair Trade Record Labels
Kanaga System Krush Promotes Traditional West African Music
Eco-Conscious Yoga Accessories
JadeYoga Creates a Mat That is Good for You and the Environment
Illustrated Skeletal Dinnerware
The Bone Appetite Collection Brings New Meaning to Bone China
Co-Op Cacoa
Kallari Chocolate Bars Support 850 Families and the Rainforest
Capacity-Building Artisan Groups
The Nest Maiyet Partnership Creates Positive Impact (UPDATE)
Peace Perfumes
The Vetiver of Haiti Fragrance by The 7 Virtues Helps Rebuild Communities
Ethical African-Inspired Gifts
Bundu Works with a Support Group for HIV-Positive Women in Malawi
Vibrant Fair Trade Products
Global Mamas Helps Ghana-Based Artisan Reach New Markets
Primary Colored Pillows
The Funkle Design Collection Brightens Rooms with Geometrical Patterns
Wholesome Cocoa Branding
The San Churro ‘Real Chocolate' Packaging is Numerically Righ
BioTrade Butterfly Businesses
'Alas de Colombia' Generates Income Through Sustainable Farming
Digitally Manipulated Knitted Threads
Chae Young Kim Creates Realistic Virtual Patterns
Himalayan Body Wraps
Social Business Khunu Preserves Yaks and Mongolian Communities
Anti Child-Labor Certifications
GoodWeave Tackles Exploitation in the Handmade Carpet Industry
Empowering Recycled Bowls
This Crockery from Bundu Designs is African-Inspired
Sustainable, Empowering Rugs
'Arzu Studio Hope' Offers Employment to Women in Afghanistan
Wholesome Harvest Branding
Late July Tortillas Packaging Has a Healthy Homegrown Appeal
Fair Trade Sports Gear
Handmade DOSTI Soccer Balls Employ Afghan Women
Social Mission Totes
Cause Boutique Promotes a Variety of Worthy Causes
Cultural Clothing Tours
Verdes y Colores is the Vision of Sustainable Retail and Fashion
Harper Poe, Founder of Proud Mary (INTERVIEW)
Socially Responsible Textiles
Judy Logback, Founder of Kallari Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
Sweets that Support People and Planet
Socially Responsible Textiles
Proud Mary Provides Artisan Materials in Developing Nations
Sustaining Rural Development
Barefoot College Supports Professionals in the Majority World
Tree-Derived Tees
Rayon Clothing is an Appealing Alternative to Cotton and Synthetics
Fair Trade Wine Pouches
'Palesa' Symbolizes Strength, Motherhood and Consciousness
Child Labor Avoidance Apps
The Free2Work App Scans Barcodes to Unveil Standards of the Company
Sustainable Society Cooperatives
The Zebra Collective is a Social Enterprise Supporting Workers
The Community Film Unit, Social Enterprise (INTERVIEW)
Angela Draskovic, Founder of ZOË Alliance (INTERVIEW)
Corporate Giving with a Conscience